Local fishing expert, columnist found dead in Weekapaug

In a Sept. 1, 2009 Day file photo, Sports Columnist Tim Coleman, a well-known author, writer and expert on fishing.

Published May 03. 2012 11:00AM | Updated May 03. 2012 11:52PM

Izaskun E. Larrañeta

Westerly — Timothy A. Coleman, a well-known author, writer and expert on fishing — specifically surf-casting — was found dead Thursday morning on the "sand trail" in the Weekapaug section of town.

Coleman, 65, wrote a weekly saltwater fishing column for The Day for more than a decade. He split his time between Westerly and the Florida Keys.

Police said Coleman was found on the shore of an inland pond with his fishing gear around 9:47 a.m. on the "sand trail" off of Spray Rock Road. Police said Coleman's death does not appear suspicious. The state medical examiner will conduct an autopsy, police said.

In addition to writing for The Day, Coleman served as managing editor for The Fisherman magazine's New England edition from 1974 to 2001 and published eight fishing books. He also wrote a "New England Regional Fishing with Tim Coleman" blog for "Soundings" online and contributed to "Salt Water Sportsman" and "Boating World."

Friends of Coleman took to the "Stripers Online" web forum to talk about Coleman's death.

"I saw him this winter at a monthly meeting for the CT Surfcasters Assoc. where he was charming and informative," one wrote. "He seemed very happy and healthy.

"The sport lost a big supporter and enthusiast. He was certainly an important figure and a (savvy) angler. He will be missed by many."

Another wrote, "Thoughts and prayers to his family — I read his articles all the time growing up; he paved the way for fishing fools and writers like myself. It's a tragedy, losing the angling icons we have in the past couple of months..."